Triatec - Pharmacology:

Triatecat, the active metabolite, competes with angiotensin I for binding at the angiotensin-converting enzyme, blocking the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. As angiotensin II is a vasoconstrictor and a negative-feedback mediator for renin activity, lower concentrations result in a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in plasma renin. Triatecat may also act on kininase II, an enzyme identical to ACE that degrades the vasodilator bradykinin.

Triatec for patients

Pregnancy: Female patients of childbearing age should be told about the consequences of second- and
third-trimester exposure to ACE inhibitors, and they should also be told that these consequences do not appear to
have resulted from intrauterine ACE-inhibitor exposure that has been limited to the first trimester. These patients
should be asked to report pregnancies to their physicians as soon as possible.

Angioedema: Angioedema, including laryngeal edema, can occur with treatment with ACE inhibitors,
especially following the first dose. Patients should be so advised and told to report immediately any signs or
symptoms suggesting angioedema (swelling of face, eyes, lips, or tongue, or difficulty in breathing) and to take no
more drug until they have consulted with the prescribing physician.

Symptomatic Hypotension: Patients should be cautioned that lightheadedness can occur, especially
during the first days of therapy, and it should be reported. Patients should be told that if syncope occurs, ramipril
should be discontinued until the physician has been consulted.

All patients should be cautioned that inadequate fluid intake or excessive perspiration, diarrhea, or vomiting can
lead to an excessive fall in blood pressure, with the same consequences of lightheadedness and possible syncope.

Hyperkalemia: Patients should be told not to use salt substitutes containing potassium without
consulting their physician.

Neutropenia: Patients should be told to promptly report any indication of infection (e.g.,
sore throat, fever), which could be a sign of neutropenia.

Triatec Interactions

With nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: Rarely, concomitant treatment with ACE
inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have been associated with worsening of renal failure and an
increase in serum potassium.

With Diuretics: Patients on diuretics, especially those in whom diuretic therapy was recently
instituted, may occasionally experience an excessive reduction of blood pressure after initiation of therapy with
ramipril. The possibility of hypotensive effects with ramipril can be minimized by either discontinuing the diuretic
or increasing the salt intake prior to initiation of treatment with ramipril. If this is not possible, the starting
dose should be reduced.

With Potassium Supplements and Potassium-sparing Diuretics: Triatec can attenuate potassium loss
caused by thiazide diuretics. Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride, triamterene, and others) or
potassium supplements can increase the risk of hyperkalemia. Therefore, if concomitant use of such agents is
indicated, they should be given with caution, and the patients serum potassium should be monitored frequently.

With Lithium: Increased serum lithium levels and symptoms of lithium toxicity have been reported in
patients receiving ACE inhibitors during therapy with lithium. These drugs should be coadministered with caution, and
frequent monitoring of serum lithium levels is recommended. If a diuretic is also used, the risk of lithium toxicity
may be increased.

Other: Neither ramipril nor its metabolites have been found to interact with food, digoxin, antacid,
furosemide, cimetidine, indomethacin, and simvastatin. The combination of ramipril and propranolol showed no adverse
effects on dynamic parameters (blood pressure and heart rate). The co-administration of ramipril and warfarin did not
adversely affect the anticoagulant effects of the latter drug. Additionally, co-administration of ramipril with
phenprocoumon did not affect minimum phenprocoumon levels or interfere with the subjects state of
anti-coagulation.

Triatec Contraindications

ALTACE is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to this product or any other angiotensin converting
enzyme inhibitor (e.g., a patient who has experienced angioedema during therapy with any other ACE inhibitor.